Table 2 Bivariate analysis of selected characteristics of the study participants, Kersa district, east Ethiopia, 2011

Maternal education

 Illiterate

223(92.9%)

1687(86.8%)

1.99(1.20, 3.33)

0.008

 Literate

17(7.1%)

257(13.2%)

1

Paternal education

 Illiterate

172(72.9%)

1194(62.2%)

1.64(1.21, 2.21)

0.001

 literate

64(27.1%)

727(37.8%)

1

Decision - making strategy of the sick child

 Individual based

92(38.2%)

534(27.3%)

1.65(1.25, 2.17)

0.000

 Jointly/common

149(61.8%)

1424(72.7)

1

Household’s wealth index

 Poor

96(39.8%)

637(32.5%)

1.66(1.18, 2.33)

0.003

 Middle

84(34.9%)

649(33.1%)

1.43(1.008, 2.02)

0.045

 Rich

61(25.3%)

672(33.1%)

1

Households’ food security

 Food insecure

29(12.0%)

180(9.2%)

1.35(0.89, 2.05)

0.157

 Food secure

212(88.0%)

1778(90.8%)

1

Maternal access to health facility

 No

100(41.5%)

568(29.0%)

1.74(1.32, 2.28)

0.000

 Yes

141(58.5%)

1390(71.0%)

1

Maternal TT vaccination

 No

142(58.9%)

993(50.7%)

1.39(1.06, 1.83)

0.017

 Yes

99(41.1%)

965(49.3%)

1

Exclusive breast feeding

 No

87(36.1%)

651(33.2%)

1.13(0.86, 1.49)

0.377

 Yes

154(63.9%)

1307(66.8%)

1

Birth interval

 < 2 years

155(64.3%)

1041(53.2%)

1.59(1.20, 2.09)

0.001

 ≥ 2 years

86(35.7%)

917(46.8%)

1

Child had separate feeding plate

 No

184(76.3%)

1371(70.0%)

1.38(1.01, 1.89)

0.042

 Yes

57(23.7%)

587(30.0%)

1

MDD 24 hours before the survey

 < 4 food items

123(51.0%)

793(40.5%)

1.53(1.17, 2.00)

0.002

 ≥ 4 food items

118(49.0%)

1165(59.5%)

1

Child’s gender

 Male

130(53.9%)

959(49.0%)

1.22(0.93, 1.59)

0.146

 Female

111(46.1%)

999(51.0%)

1

Child’s age (months)

 6- 23

68(28.2)

544(27.8)

1.17(0.81, 1.67)

0.403

 24-35

107(44.4)

799(40.8)

1.25(0.90, 1.73)

0.181

 36- 59

66(27.4)

615(31.4)

1